Chapter 12
I looked at Rita, my gaze clear and cold.
“What makes you so high and mighty? Is it that pig–brain of yours too dense to grasp even Gomoku? Or bragging about scooping up my discarded man like he’s some trophy? Maybe gloating over career crumbs I spat out? And this ‘circle of yours–men and women wallowing in their own filth, rutting like barn animals? Keep your stinking pen locked tight with Julian. I’ll take fresh air over your rot.”
My tone was gentle, my words dripping with venom.
Rita’s face twisted in a furious grimace. She began to rant, “Shut up! I’ll rip your mouth out! I’ll kill you!” Leaping from her chair, she lunged at me.
I stood motionless. As she neared, I forcefully threw the documents in my hand onto her face. She stumbled, bleeding from her nose.
*Handover complete. I wish you luck in destroying the Shaw Corp. With that, I turned and left.
‘Olivia Frost, I won’t let you get away with this!” Clutching her nose, her crazed screams seemed to shake the entire building. No one from the team dared say anything.
I walked out of the office. After a while, my old subordinates cautiously caught me up, their concern and empathy palpable. In Mandy’s hands was a box filled with my trophies, which she had just rescued from the garbage bin despite the pressure.
‘Ms. Frost, let me take these down for you.”
Her gesture warmed my heart; my eyes welled up. Although this was the darkest moment of my life, it wasn’t completely devoid of light.
“Okay.” I smiled, accepting her help.
The team walked me to the elevator; Mandy carried my things downstairs. Before I left, I told her, “Tell everyone to focus on their work. Don’t mess with Miss Crowe. I hope she’ll get bored soon and leave on her own. If any problems arise on the projects under her supervision, report directly to Mr. Shaw. Don’t wait for her to shift the blame; you can’t handle the consequences of issues with projects worth tens of millions. If Mr. Shaw knows it’s her fault, he’ll figure it out.”
Mandy nodded. ‘I will.” I hugged her.“Keep in touch.”
Rain began to fall, each drop a poignant reminder of my sadness. Only ten days left. It would soon be over.
Rita went upstairs to complain after Olivia left. Her brother Caffrey was also there. Seeing Rita’s swollen nose, he was confused.“What happened?”
Rita recounted her version of story, exaggerating everything. She claimed she’d offered Olivia coffee, but Olivia had insulted her, called her shameless, and even scolded Julian with offensive language.
“I had to consult her about work matters, so I didn’t dare talk back. When her verbal abuse wasn’t enough, she hurled the transition files all over my face, then pinned me to the ground and kept hitting me.”
Julian’s face was grim, but he said nothing. Caffrey was furious. “Was she insane? Julian, aren’t you gonna do something? She needs a lesson.”
Julian said, “I’ll apologize to Rita on her behalf. Olivia’s been having a rough time lately.”
Rita, expecting Julian to take her side, was even more upset. “I don’t need your apology! I want Olivia to kneel down and apologize to me! And I’ll return the blows tenfold!”
Julian’s expression turned icy.“That’s not happening.”
15-59
81%
Caffrey was displeased “Why not? She beat up my sister for no reason, shouldn’t she be held accountable? If you shield bet, we’ll file a civil lawsuit.”
Julian’s fingers flexed against his palm. After a weighted pause, he replied “If you insist on that path, I can only express regret. Our partnership would collapse, and we’d clash in a legal war
The Crowes were astonished. Caffrey asted You. You care that much about her?”
Julian answered definitively. She’s my woman. No one touches her.”
Rita trembled with rage. Julian is happy with me. He doesn’t even go back to his home much anymore. He’s over Olivia isn’t he? So why protect her?
The realization that she ranked below Olivia in Julian’s heart made her want to slice Olivia’s throat open. But she was even more afraid of Julian being cold to her. She changed her tune. Forget it. Olivia was probably just mad at me. I didn’t really want her to kneel, I was just saying it. Don’t be angry.”
Caffrey was stunned. Since when did his sister become so forgiving?
“But Julian Rita cooed pitifully, “after such unfair treatment, you have to make it up to me.”
Julian’s expression softened, his eyes tender. Of course.”
Rita left, resentment simmering in her gut.
Back home, I received a call from Gloria
“Honey, tomorrow afternoon, Mark Keller from Keller Group is playing golf with Evan Jones. I’ve arranged for you to join us. Make a good impression.”
You’re the best, darling! Mwah!”
“Oh my, goosebumps. See you Wednesday, then.”
“Okay
This good news cheered me up; I overate at dinner.
That evening, I went to the gym to walk off the extra calories. Twenty minutes later, my phone rang. It was Julian.
He hadn’t come home again. I was used to his absence, but why was he calling at this hour?
I hesitated, then answered. The moment the call connected, I heard rapid breathing, followed by a woman’s ecstatic moans “Julian, slower… you’re amazing… I’m coming…”
Aaaahhhh…
My stomach churned; I bent over, vomiting bile. My phone fell to the ground, the screen shattering.
I didn’t remember how I got back to my room. Lying in bed, I thought I’d be sleepless, consumed by pain–but I wasn’t.
I lay with my eyes open, listening to my heartbeat, everything eerily still…
Time ticked by. At some point, I closed my eyes, darkness enveloping me.
When I woke, dawn had broken. I got up, freshened up, had breakfast, and bought a new phone. In the afternoon, I went to the the golf club as arranged.
